NATO Chief Warns Brazil, China, and India of Potential Sanctions Over Ties with Russia

Washington, D.C., July 16 — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a strong warning on Wednesday, cautioning that countries such as Brazil, China, and India could face sweeping secondary sanctions if they continue to maintain economic relationships with Russia amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Rutte's remarks came during high-level meetings with U.S. senators, a day after former President Donald Trump announced a significant new weapons package for Ukraine and threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian exports—unless a peace deal is brokered within 50 days.

“My message to leaders in Beijing, Delhi, and Brasília is clear: You may want to take this seriously, because the consequences could be severe,” Rutte told reporters. He confirmed that he had met with Trump on Monday and backed the new pressure measures.

“Make the call to Vladimir Putin. Urge him to pursue serious peace talks, because if not, the economic fallout could hit Brazil, India, and China very hard,” he added.

The comments come amid growing frustration among Western leaders over continued global trade with Moscow, particularly by nations that have not joined sanctions efforts.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis expressed support for Trump’s proposal but voiced concern about the 50-day grace period, warning it could give Putin time to intensify the conflict.

“There’s a real risk that Putin could exploit this window to make territorial gains or strengthen his position before any potential negotiations,” Tillis said. “We should make it clear: any gains made in that period will not be recognized.”

Rutte emphasized that European nations are prepared to provide robust financial support to ensure Ukraine enters any peace talks from a position of strength.

Under the new agreement with Trump, the United States is expected to significantly increase military assistance to Ukraine. “It’s not just about air defense. We’re talking about missiles and ammunition—much of it funded by Europe,” Rutte said.

When asked whether the package includes long-range missiles, Rutte responded: “The support will be both defensive and offensive in nature. The specific components are still being discussed by the Pentagon, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, and Ukrainian officials.”

The developments reflect a renewed sense of urgency among NATO allies to both isolate Russia economically and bolster Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities ahead of any potential ceasefire discussions.